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AFLW 2024 - Round 9 - Indigenous Round - Chat, game threads, injury lists, team lineups and more.
Player Watch #32: Tom Sparrow – in until 2026
- Thread starter MarcMaverick
- Start date
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Honestly didn't notice him until the last quarter, was he thrown into the centre in the last? he looked really impressive in there, reckon he's just being lost in whatever role he's been given, thrived when given some minutes in the guts.
Bluelegs
Digging into the why
Who would have thought playing a bloke in his natural position would net a positive result.
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Topkent
Confirmed ITK Drafting King
Who ate up Salem's CB time?
Was it a mix of Koz and Sparrow?
Was it a mix of Koz and Sparrow?
- Apr 12, 2014
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Would say also with the defence injuries they would have had Hore play taller and Salem play predominantly back.
Topkent
Confirmed ITK Drafting King
Pretty sure Salem was back all game. Hopefully banished from the middle
I noticed him early in the game he laid a tackle definitely looked more involved. He seem to get more confident as the game went on. Only criticism was he won a clearance just after trac in the last and did a sky bomb, he might have been a bit more under the pump but after trac nailed that pass to jvr it wasn't great.
LOL bloke had his stock standard one good game every 15 games.
It's like when he kicked 3 against the Northern Bullants this pre season and you blew a load only for him to spud it up against Sydney and the doggies.
I'll hold judgement until I see consistency of form right up until September.
- Apr 12, 2014
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I have old mate on mute but it’s pretty clear to literally everyone else that he played a good game on the weekend, problem is as pointed out he plays a good game every two months.
I did notice the crowd cheering loudly on Saturday.
Maybe Sparrow only plays well when we cheer loudly?
- Apr 12, 2014
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7 games into his 6th season and I think he’s pretty symptomatic of the selection issues we’ve had in the past few years. Averages 15 touches a game and has 3 goals in 7 games. Doesn’t do a ton defensively like ANB does, doesn’t assist much and doesn’t play a defensive role on an oppo player.
The two year deal we gave him is still weird, I’m pretty sure if we hadn’t let Bedford go and had Sparrow in his place we’d be totally fine. We are playing four inside mids (Trac Oliver Viney Sparrow) when you only really need two and I’ve got no faith this guy would see a significant uptick in form if he had more responsibility.
The two year deal we gave him is still weird, I’m pretty sure if we hadn’t let Bedford go and had Sparrow in his place we’d be totally fine. We are playing four inside mids (Trac Oliver Viney Sparrow) when you only really need two and I’ve got no faith this guy would see a significant uptick in form if he had more responsibility.
Lord Nev
Premiership Player
- Feb 14, 2023
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The combination of Sparrow's recent middling form, Oliver's injury, and Sestan, Brown and Tholstrup all being reasonably viable options is pretty disappointing from the selection committee.
- Apr 12, 2014
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Yep, I get they probably don’t want to go ‘too’ young but I’m not sure we can tolerate form like this from Sparrow if we are actually trying to have selection integrity. I get they’re backing Oliver because he’s a star player but what has Sparrow done to earn so much good will?
Lord Nev
Premiership Player
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I was actually thinking more about your point about Sparrow being better when given more opportunity. It was staring the selectors in the face that the right move should have been getting Clarry right early on, play Sparrow in the midfield more as one of those 'primary' 3 mids, and bring in one of those youngsters to play that Sparrow mid/forward role.
Given Clarry's injury, Sparrow's form, all 3 youngsters worth a shot, and our midfield struggling it just all made perfect sense. Then you've got 2-3 games while Clarry gets right to have a look at all that stuff before you settle in for the second half of the year as Goody seems to like to do with selection.
We've got a lot of young players in the team already, I don't think swapping Sparrow for Sestan is going to make much difference to our performance.
He was garbage last week but he is what he is - a role player.
He was garbage last week but he is what he is - a role player.
Lord Nev
Premiership Player
- Feb 14, 2023
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Agree he is what he is, I don't judge him too harshly in that context - However, my suggestion was taking Oliver out to get his finger right, putting Sparrow full time in the middle, and bringing in Sestan (or Brown or Tholstrup) to have a crack at Sparrow's usual role.
Would have potentially killed a few birds with one stone.
What's his role??
Topkent
Confirmed ITK Drafting King
Yeah that's code for shit like being 'managed'
Making other guys look good, **** I'd make James Jordan look good if I was playing next to him
By role player I mean he's in the bottom third of the player's picked every week - ie not one of the better players but is seemingly quite coachable and can follow instructions for the betterment of the team.
I think it's clear what role he has - he rotates through the midfield and half forward, sometimes getting centre bounce time depending on the situation. Runs hard, puts pressure on, wins contests forward of the ball (hypothetically).
Whether he's good at it or not is another question. When he's playing well he's actually quite strong and effective in the contest, good overhead and a nice long kick. When he's playing badly he is slow of mind, fumbly and picks the wrong option going forward.
He's not having a great year and is pissing me off more than usual but I don't think his form is really the source of the team's problems
- Apr 12, 2014
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I’m not saying he’s the source though, he’s just an example of how we are still too stagnant with team structure.
Bluelegs
Digging into the why
Don't really get the argument about not wanting to go too young. If shit hits the fan Sparrow ain't the guy who's settling things down.
Not any more than a bog average player.
Expectations for this bloke has been lowered. A lot. Some were even considering him an option for future captain. Maybe Goody needs to come out and explain his role each week, because I really have no idea wtf he does. Defensive role across our half forward line? He might be doing better than what I can see, but his position shouldn't be a lock each week tbh. Sestan might be a better option soon.
Expectations for this bloke has been lowered. A lot. Some were even considering him an option for future captain. Maybe Goody needs to come out and explain his role each week, because I really have no idea wtf he does. Defensive role across our half forward line? He might be doing better than what I can see, but his position shouldn't be a lock each week tbh. Sestan might be a better option soon.
